Improvement in book-holders



J. B. BROWN. Book-Holder.

Patented June18 ,1878.

INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

NFETERS, PHOKO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D. O.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. BROWN, OF SUISUN CITY, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,947, dated June 18,1878; application filed March 19, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. BROWN, of Suisun City, in the county ofSolano and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Bookand Music Holder, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front view of myimproved book and music holder 5 and Fig. 2, a vertical transversesection of the same on line :0 :20, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish, for the purpose of holdingmusic in position on the rack of a piano, organ, or other instrument, animproved spring-holding device that is readily applied to the sheets orbook of music, and lifted therefrom to admit of turning, being alsoapplicable for the purpose of holding a book or other papers in openposition on the desk or rest, for reading, writ. ing, &c.

The invention consists of a spring-clasp attached to the piano or otherobject, so that, when lifted, and the music or book placed under it, itwill readily secure it in open position..

Referring to the drawing, A represents a spring clasp or plate having anoperatingbutton, B, by which the clasp is readily lifted. The clasp isprovided with curved side arms 0, the ends or which are bent into spiralsprings C, and again extended backward parallel to the side arms, forbeing attached by enlarged ends or by a laterally-connecting piece orstrip, D, and suitable screws to the piano or other musical instrument,in frontof the rack on which the music is placed, or to the desk, whenthe holding device is used for books. The holder is so arranged on theinstrument that the clasp falls under or in front of the music when notused.

The spiral springs hold the sheets of music in place by pressing theclasp and sheets against the music rack. When the player wishes to turnthe leaves, remove, or replace the music, the clasp is pulled back bythe button.

The device may be made to suit any instru- .ment by lengthening orshortening either the side arms of the clasp or the fixed side bars ofthe attachingstrip. When applied to the book the arms of theattaching-strip D may be so curved as to leave a certain space betweenthe same and provide for the thickness of the book.

The clasp is placed, when used for books, on the upper part of the deskover the page for reading and writing, instead of at the lower part, asin music, the fastening-strip being attached to the table, desk, orother support.

In this manner the annoyance of holding the music or pushing the sheetsinto open position on the piano or on the desk is avoided, and aconvenient holding device for music and books obtained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- In a book-support, the spring-clasp A B G 0, havingside arms and strip D, the latter attachable by screws to a piano ororgan, as shown and described.

JAMES BENJAMIN BROWN.

Witnesses IKE ROSENTHAL, W. GoRKEL.

